Choose the appropriate ESG learning path and aim for your goals!
As a newly emerging profession, how great is the demand for ESG professionals? In order to keep up with the trend of green and sustainable finance, banks, asset management, listed companies, and others are actively hiring practitioners with ESG-related work experience. However, the Hong Kong government’s “Quality Migrant Admission Scheme” added two industries to its qualified “talent list” in 2021, and “Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) related financial professionals” is one of them, indicating that local talent supply falls short of demand.
Course recognition is a priority
When choosing ESG courses, recognition is certainly an important consideration. ESG has gradually become a profession, and the financial industry and large enterprises both need ESG professionals. However, there is currently no university in Hong Kong offering an ESG degree program. Therefore, ESG professionals currently either pursue a degree from an overseas university, such as in Environmental Science and Earth Science, or “switch gears” from other positions, such as corporate communications or investment managers, and equip themselves by pursuing or obtaining ESG certification on the basis of some relevant work experience.
Some local universities’ affiliated professional continuing education schools also offer various ESG courses, but most of them are not internationally recognized and mainly focus on a certain area or category of ESG. They are more suitable for enhancing practical knowledge in current work. Therefore, those who aspire to pursue or switch to ESG work often choose to take qualification/certificate courses offered by internationally renowned professional institutions to strengthen their personal abilities and pave the way for their entry into the field.
Focus on ESG Investment Professional Certifications
If you do not know what ESG courses to choose to obtain a “ticket” to enter the ESG field, the list of recognized courses provided by official organizations is believed to have some reference value. The Green and Sustainable Finance Training Information Database provided by the Green and Sustainable Finance Cross-Agency Steering Group under the Hong Kong Monetary Authority collects and organizes a series of local and international training or qualification certificate courses, covering most of the courses/qualifications available on the market. Another course indicator worth considering is the list of accredited courses or qualifications under the “Green and Sustainable Finance Training Pilot Scheme” launched by the government in December last year.
As ESG is still an emerging trend, there is currently no consensus on which ESG certification is the best. However, at present, the “CFA Institute Certificate in ESG Investing” (CFA ESG) and the “Certified ESG Analyst” (CESGA) take the lead in terms of recognition in Hong Kong. Both courses/qualifications are included in the above two lists.
The Chartered Financial Analyst Association (CFA Institute) is an internationally renowned financial professional institution, and its Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) is the “gold standard” of the financial industry. Therefore, the biggest selling point of CFA ESG is its brand reputation. In response to the development of sustainable investment market, CFA also launched ESG certification, but note that CFA ESG and CFA qualifications cannot be confused. Candidates who pass the exam cannot use CFA ESG as a professional title, only as a certificate holder.
CESGA, on the other hand, is offered by the European Federation of Financial Analysts Societies (EFFAS). It has been in existence since 2014 and is a professional ESG qualification with a certain level of seniority in the market. Its biggest feature is the right to use the professional title. After passing the professional exam, candidates can put CESGA after their name. Moreover, this professional qualification does not require renewal, and once obtained, it lasts forever.
It is worth noting that both CESGA and CFA ESG view ESG from an investment professional perspective. Although anyone can enroll, those with relevant work experience or financial knowledge, such as financial analysis, investment or accounting, will find it easier to get started. Otherwise, they need to spend more time studying the course or supplementing information to grasp the basic knowledge of ESG and financial analysis.
Government subsidizes HKD 10,000 for study
To enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness in developing green and sustainable finance, the government has launched the “Green and Sustainable Finance Training Pilot Scheme,” which is referred to as the “green version” of the Continuing Education Fund. The program is a three-year pilot scheme that provides subsidies to practitioners and aspiring professionals who receive qualified relevant training and/or obtain relevant qualifications. Eligible applicants can apply for a refund of the relevant fees after successfully completing the training or qualification. The maximum amount per person is HKD 10,000.
Q: Do I need to work in green finance to apply?
A: The program is open to Hong Kong residents who are practitioners or aspiring professionals in green and sustainable finance-related work (i.e., students and graduates who study relevant subjects). In other words, you do not have to work in relevant fields to apply, but you need to explain how your current work is related.
Q: What courses or qualifications are eligible for application?
A: As of now, there are 24 courses or qualifications that meet the requirements, including the aforementioned CFA ESG and CESGA. Other courses/qualifications can be viewed by clicking <here>. Applicants must successfully complete the training or qualification designated by the course list by December 12, 2025.
